Extension car-step.



J. I. OLING.

EXTENSION GAR STEP.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27, 1908.

961,002. PatentedJune 7, 1910.

3SHEETS-BHEET 1.

z pyi J. momma; EXTENSION CAR STEP.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 27, 1-908.

Patented June 7,1910.

a MEETS-SHEET 2.

O-LITHOGIIAPNERS WASNINGYON n c JOHN J. OLING, 0F HARVEY, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION CAR-STEP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. OLING, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Harvey, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ExtensionCar-Steps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Passenger car steps as ordinarily constructed are of a height suitablefor a relatively low platform. In many instances, however, the platformbeing lacking or of a height approximately of the sidewalk level, it isnecessary for the porter to place a stool to serve as an additional stepto enable the passenger either to enter the car or to alight therefromconveniently. In such cases the distance between the bottom of the lowerstep and the walk is something more than twice the height of a step andin consequence, such additional assistance is necessary. Of course,where a somewhat elevated platform is provided, such assistance is notrequired and the passenger can usually step easily from the platform tothe lower step. The object of this invention is to provide an extensionstep adapted when not in use to be supported and concealed beneath thebottom stationary step and adapted by the the use of exceedingly simplemechanism of being projected downwardly to afford an additional step,thus obviating the use of the port-ers stool at stations or elsewhere.

It is also an object of the invention to afford an exceedingly cheap,simple and durable device of the class described adapted when not in useto occupy very small space and in fact, to be entirely concealed fromview.

It is finally an object of the invention to afford an exceedinglystrong, and rigid, though very quickly adjustable device of the classdescribed, whereby the step may be projected for use or retracted veryquickly.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying myinvention showing the same applied to a Pullman car step and extended indotted lines. Fig. .2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 27, 1908.

Patented June '7, 1910.

Serial No. 440,743.

is a View similar to Fig. 1, but of a slightly modified actuatingmechanism. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings: A, indicates the platform, and B, thestationary car steps, which are constructed and supported as usual toafford the requisite rigidity for the use required. Bolted on the innerside of each riser b, is a metallic strap 1), which lies close behindthe back of the steps and is provided at the upper and the lower endsthereof with inwardly turned flanges 5 having apertures therethroughaffording eyes through which extend the slide rods C, which, as shown,are cylindric and at their lower ends are bent forwardly and rigidlysecured by bolting, riveting, or other suitable means to the metallicstep 0, which is slightly less in width than the width of the stationarysteps and is adapted, when the step is elevated, to fit into a recess inthe bottom of the step, as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby to be concealed.

Rigidly connecting the guide rods G, near their middle is a transversebar 0. Pivotally connected on said connecting bar 0, is an arm or lever0 which extends upwardly from the center thereof and pivotally engagedat the upper end of said lever, is a bent lever 0 the other end of whichextends in close relation with one of the risers b, of the stationarysteps and is provided with a wrist pin 0*, therein which engages in alongitudinal slot in the actuating lever 0 Said actuating lever,asshown, is fulcrumed or pivoted upon a pivot bolt 0', above the slottedend thereof, permitting the free end of said lever to be actuated, asshown in full lines or in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and with theconsequent actuation of the step to raise or lower the same.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the step instead of beingprojected straight downward, as in the construction just described, isprojected downwardly and swung outwardly. The mechanism foraccomplishing this is as follows: The step I), is pivotally engaged atits rear edge and ends upon a link (Z, the upper end of which ispivotally engaged upon a pivot bolt cZ, set in its end near the frontedge of the lower step. Pivotally engaged on the forward edge of theextension of the step D, is a link d which is slotted longitudinallyfrom near its lower end upwardly and through which extends a pivot boltd secured in the link or bar (Z.

Pivotally engaged at the outer end of the link or bar OP, is a lever (iwhich is fulcrumed on one of the risers by means of a pivot bolt d saidlever (i being connected as shown in Fig. 3, with a transverseconnecting bar d which engages the lever at each end of the step andbeing provided with a bend or turn therein, as shown in Fig. 4:, toenable said lever to be fulcrumed on the riser. Pivotally engaged on theriser as be fore described is a lever d corresponding with the lever 0before described, and as shown, the ends of the lever d, and the ends ofthe lever (Z are connected by means of a link (Z The operation of theseconstruct-ions is substantially identical. IVhen the lever 0 shown inFigs. 1 and 2, is thrown inwardly to the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2, the bent lever 0 is actuated to the position shown in dottedlines in said figure, thus forcing the bar 0 downwardly, and bringingthe extension step 0, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.In this instance, it is obvious that the eyes in the straps Z), guidethe guide rods C, and permit only a downward and outward movement of thestep by said rod sliding through the eyes. hen the lever is thrown backto the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the rod or bar 0,assumes the position shown in Fig. 2, thus necessitating the upwardmovement of the step bringing the same just beneath the first stationarystep and entirely concealing the same from view. Inasmuch as all themechanism is concealed from view behind the back mounting of the steps,it follows that all that is observable when the step is not in use isthe hand ever 0 In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the step isalso concealed below the lower stationary step when not in use and thelever (Z in that case remains in the position shown in full lines inFig. 4;. hen it is desired to extend the step, however, the lever isthrown to the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and l, with theeffect of throwing the bottom portion of the lever (Z outwardly andextending the slotted link (Z thus carrying the front portion of theextension step downwardly and outwardly, and inasmuch as the rearportion of the step is supported on the link (Z this of course, follows,inasmuch as the length of the link is such that the step D, must inwhatever position it is supported whether extended or retracted, remainin parallel relation with the lower stationary car step.

Inasmuch as the step may be instantaneously retracted and normallyoccupies no space lower than the bottom of the usual lower stationarystep, it follows thatrailway standards cannot at all be alfected andcannot at all afl'ect the value of this device, inasmuch as theclearance when the step is not in use is exactly the same above the walkor rail as in the usual construction of steps, the extension only beingintended for use when the train is standing still.

This construction obviates entirely the use of the porters stool inassisting passengers to alight or to enter the car, and thus a veryserious danger is avoided as it sometimes occurs that the passenger notstepping fairly upon the stool overturns the same, or the stool may slipupon icy walk.

Of course, I am aware that numerous details of the construction may bevaried. I therefore do not purpose limiting this application for patentotherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described an extensible car step, anactuating lever, levers pivotally connected therewith and with the stephaving a longitudinal slot in the ends adjacent the step, linkspivotally connected to the ends of the step and pivot bolts secured tothe links and extended through the slots in the levers.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a car step ofan extension step, an actuating lever pivoted to the car step, linkspivoted to the car step and to the rear edge of the extension step, apivot bolt secured to each link, levers pivoted at their ends to theextension step having longitudinal slots therein through which the pivotbolts extend to guide the levers and means connecting the actuatinglever and the last named levers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. ()LING.

Vitnesses K. E. HANNAH, CHARLES IV. HILLS, Jr.

